Written Answers Nos. 400-420
400. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of delegates that will be nominated by each of the established Youth Organisations at the Youth Assembly on Climate; the identity of the ten guest delegates who have been invited to the assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12945/22]
View answerThe National Youth Assembly of Ireland is made up of 30 sitting delegates between the ages of 12-24 years. Established youth organisations across the country, and the national network of Comhairle na nOg, the recognised national structure for participation by children and young people (aged 12-17 years) in decision-making, were invited to nominate delegates to become members of the Assembly for a term of 18 months.
Ten or more guest delegates will join the sitting delegates for a single Assembly. These young people will have a special interest in the topic of the Assembly.
The inaugural meeting of the National Youth Assembly of Ireland took place on March 2nd when it convened as the Youth Assembly on Climate. While it is not appropriate to provide the names of the delegates given the age range of the cohort of young people, I can provide the following information relating to delegates.
National Youth Assembly of Ireland – Delegate selection
Established youth organisations were invited to nominate up to four young people from their organisation to sit on the National Youth Assembly of Ireland. The organisations were provided with the following criteria:
- The young person must be aged between 12 and 22.5 years of age on 1st (or 31st) January 2022. (They must be under 25 for their duration on the Assembly)
- The term is for 18 months - January 2022-June 2023 (unless the person turns 25 before their term is complete).
- The young person should be able and willing to attend the Assemblies and accompanying meetings. There will be a maximum of four Assemblies per year with accompanying preparation and evaluation meetings.
- The young person should be motivated to speak about issues of importance to young people.
Selection Panel
The selection panel made up of officials from DCEDIY and the National Participation Office applied a pre-determined selection criteria aimed at having a broad representation of young people from a range of youth organisations, taking into account the following:
- Age
- Gender
- Urban/ Rural
- Organisation
- Geographical spread
- Seldom Heard
Sitting Delegates
The sitting delegates on the National Youth Assembly of Ireland were nominated by the following organisations:
|
Organisation |
Number of Assembly delegates |
|
Órgas |
1 |
|
Localise Youth Volunteering |
2 |
|
Catholic Guides of Ireland |
1 |
|
Irish Girl Guides |
1 |
|
Carlow Regional Youth Service |
1 |
|
Eurodirect Letterkenny |
1 |
|
SpunOut |
1 |
|
Fridays for Future - Clare |
1 |
|
Eco UNESCO |
1 |
|
Foroige |
1 |
|
Ossory Youth Service |
1 |
|
Scouting Ireland |
1 |
|
Crosscare Ronanstown Youth Centre |
1 |
|
Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services (CDYS) Co. Cork |
1 |
|
YMCA |
1 |
|
Candle Community Trust |
1 |
|
NYCI |
1 |
|
Crosscare |
1 |
|
Youth Work Ireland Laois |
1 |
|
Kerry Comhairle na nOg |
1 |
|
Longford Comhairle na nOg |
1 |
|
Cork City Comhairle na nOg |
1 |
|
Tipperary Comhairle na nOg |
1 |
|
Monaghan Comhairle na nOg |
1 |
|
Cork County Comhairle na nOg |
2 |
|
Kildare Comhairle na nOg |
1 |
|
Mayo Comhairle na nOg |
1 |
Youth Assembly on Climate –Guest Delegate selection
When the National Youth Assembly convened as the Youth Assembly on Climate, the 30 sitting delegates were joined by guest delegates with a special interest in the topic of Climate, and nine guest delegates were offered a place on the Assembly. These guest delegates were nominated from established organisations relevant to the topic.
Organisations were invited to nominate up to two young people from their organisation. The organisations were provided with the following criteria:
- The young person must be aged between 12 and 24 years of age on 30th April 2022. (They must be under 25 for the Assembly and evaluation meeting).
- Guest delegates will join for this one Assembly only, and accompanying meetings.
- The young person should be able and willing to attend the Assembly on March 2nd and accompanying meetings. There will be an accompanying preparation and evaluation meeting.
- The young person should be motivated to speak about Climate issues.
Selection Panel
The selection panel made up of officials from DCEDIY and the National Participation Office applied a pre-determined selection criteria aimed at having a broad representation of young people from a range of specialist groups, taking into account the criteria for membership of the Assembly:
- Age
- Gender
- Urban/ Rural
- Seldom Heard
- Organisation
- Geographical spread
Guest Delegates
The guest delegates at the Youth Assembly on Climate were nominated by the following organisations:
|
Organisation |
Number of guest delegates |
|
YMCA |
1 |
|
UNICEF |
2 |
|
Fridays for Future Dublin |
1 |
|
FEASTA |
1 |
|
Climate Assembly Ireland |
1 |
|
EEU An Taisce |
2 |
|
Love Leitrim |
1 |
401. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to increase the core funding available to family resource centres to allow them to expand their capacity to deal with the additional workload the emergency situation in Ukraine and the potential refugee arrival in Ireland from the region will present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13039/22]
View answerI would like to assure you that I am deeply concerned by the ongoing crisis in the Ukraine. We are monitoring the situation closely and my Department is ready to assist in our national response as the EU develops a coordinated approach to supporting Ukrainian nationals seeking international protection. I am liaising with my EU colleagues and Cabinet to ensure an effective humanitarian response.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme which provides funding to 121 Centres across the country. Ukrainian nationals seeking international protection arriving into the State will effectively be part of the community and have access to health services, accommodation, education for children and other social supports. This includes services such as FRCs, which will be available to these individuals and families. I recognise the potential increase in service pressures, which will have an impact across all Government services. As the situation is currently dynamic, including the number of Ukrainians that will come to Ireland, I am not in a position to provide an update on any potential changes to funding allocations at present.
402. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current staffing level in family resource centres; his views on whether this is sufficient to cope with the additional work that will transpire with the arrival of refugees from Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13040/22]
View answerI would like to assure you that I am deeply concerned by the ongoing crisis in the Ukraine. We are monitoring the situation closely and my Department is ready to assist in our national response as the EU develops a coordinated approach to supporting Ukrainian nationals seeking international protection. I am liaising with my EU colleagues and Cabinet to ensure an effective humanitarian response.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme which provides funding to 121 Centres across the country. Ukrainian nationals seeking international protection arriving into the State will effectively be part of the community and have access to health services, accommodation, education for children and other social supports. This includes services such as FRCs, which will be available to these individuals and families. I recognise the potential increase in service pressures will impact across all Government services.
FRCs operate independently of Tusla, with a Board of Management, and are responsible for determining their staffing requirements to meet service demand and recruitment of these employees. Staffing is, ultimately, the responsibility of each FRC’s Board of Management. I greatly value the work of FRCs and expect that they will play an important role alongside the hundreds of C&V sector bodies that will assist in the national effort to support families arriving from Ukraine.
403. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of protected disclosures received by his Department in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; if an external contractor has been engaged regarding a protected disclosure over that time period; if so, the cost of same; and the number of protected disclosures that were rejected, accepted and that remain under review for the time period in question. [13046/22]
View answerThe table below sets out the information on Protected Disclosures to my Department as requested.
|
Year |
Protected Disclosures Received |
External Contractor Engaged |
Cost of External Contractor |
Protected Disclosures Accepted/Rejected/Remaining under review |
|
2019 |
1 |
No |
n/a |
Case Rejected |
|
2020 |
0 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
2021 |
0 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
2022 (to date) |
0 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
404. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the context in which he made representations against planning proposals in Bessborough, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13104/22]
View answerThe Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and related matters identified 923 deaths relating to children who were associated with the former Mother and Baby Home, Bessborough, Cork. It concluded that it is likely that some of the children are buried in the grounds of Bessborough but was unable to find any physical or documentary evidence of this.
In November 2020, two planning applications were made in relation to the grounds of Bessborough. One was a Strategic Housing Development (SHD) application to An Bord Pleanála. The second was made to Cork City Council. The applications related to an area which campaigners believe is the most likely location of the burials of these children. As a result, I made submissions to An Bord Pleanála and Cork City Council as part of the normal planning process in respect of these two planning applications. I requested that these planning bodies should consider the sensitivity of the site and the conclusions of the Commission. An Bord Pleanála refused permission to develop the site in question because it was not satisfied that the site was not previously used as a children's burial ground.
I believe that it is important to have regard to any need for further investigations by appropriate experts prior to works commencing on a site like Bessborough. It is also important that adequate consideration be given to requests from survivors and their families for appropriate access and respectful memorialisation. I have been engaging with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to memorialisation and protection of burial sites that may be linked to former Mother and Baby or County Home Institutions. The Minister established a Working Group last year to advance the relevant actions in the Government Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions.
405. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress of the delivery of technical university status; the details in relation to Dundalk Institute of Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12428/22]
View answerProgress of Delivery of Technological University Status
Considerable progress has been made in this area, since the passage of the Technological Universities Act 2018, with the following institutional; consolidations and mergers:
- On 01 January 2019, Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown, and Institute of Technology, Tallaght, consolidated into Technological University Dublin;
- On 01 January 2021, Cork Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology. Tralee, consolidated into Munster Technological University;
- On 01 October 2021, Athlone Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology consolidated into Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest;
- On 01 April 2022, it is planned that Galway-Mayo, Sligo and Letterkenny Institutes of Technology will be dissolved and consolidated into Atlantic Technological University; and
- On 01 May 2022, it is planned that Waterford Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology, Carlow will be dissolved and consolidated into South East Technological University
Since 2013 Government has provided over €90 million under firstly the Higher Education Landscape Fund, and since 2020 under the TU Transformation Fund to consortia of Institutes of Technology. This funding has the objective of advancing consortia proposals for TU establishment and assists newly established TUs in the post-establishment transition period when these TUs are seeking to embed regionally and deliver on their various legislative functions. A further €30 million allocation will be provided under the Transformation Fund this year.
In addition, Government has secured €40 million under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan in the period to 2024 for a TU education and training reform programme and is also seeking to secure over €80 million for a TU regional research development and innovation integration (RRDII) programme under the ERDF Co-Funded Regional Programmes 2021-2027.
A number of TU development consortia and established TUs are also receiving support for new or refurbishment related capital programmes with the assistance of my Department and the Higher Education Authority. There will also be further opportunity for TUs to submit capital proposals in the near future.
Progress of Dundalk Institute of Technology
Dundalk Institute of Technology has indicated in its strategic plan and in engagements with the Higher Education Authority (HEA), its objective to attain TU status in due course.
I am supportive of the Institute’s ambitions in this regard and both my Department and the HEA continue to support the Institute on its trajectory to achieve TU status through Exchequer funding under the Transformation Fund and the deployment of a special advisor to assist the Institute.
With regard to the HEA special advisor, Dr. Ruaidhri Neavyn, he has to date engaged with the Institute in the development of a plan to progress towards meeting the TU eligibility criteria stipulated under the Technological Universities Act 2018 and which plan is being funded from the Transformation Fund.
Dr. Neavyn has assisted the Institute in imagining its future vision and contribution to a TU which has been used to engage stakeholders and any potential partner TU and he has assisted the Institute in engaging such stakeholders and contributed to its approach to engaging with TUs.
Dr. Neavyn has in the course of providing assistance to Dundalk Institute of Technology met with appropriate groupings and stakeholders on an ongoing basis and participated in the Institute’s TU related meetings including TU steering group meetings, governing body or relevant sub-committee meetings and leadership team meetings.
Given that Dundalk Institute of Technology will need to demonstrate an ability to achieve the TU eligibility criteria metrics in order to achieve its ambition, and given the network of TUs established and in view, it is more likely the Institute’s ambition to be part of a multi-campus TU will de facto require to be considered under section 38 of the 2018 TU Act which provides for the merger of an Institute of Technology with an existing TU.
The Department and HEA will continue to support as appropriate the Institute in seeking to achieve TU status.
406. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of staff currently employed by his Department; the current annual salary of the highest and second highest paid persons respectively, employed by his Department; and the various pay scales for persons working in his Department. [12477/22]
View answerThere are currently 199.67 full time equivalent staff currently employed by my Department.
The current annual salaries of the highest and second highest paid persons employed by my Department are €205,199 and €159,042 respectively.
The civil service salary scales applying to staff of the Department are set out in the attached table.
408. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of a pension review for a person (details supplied); if clarity will be provided on the matter given that the person has not received an update on same since 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12583/22]
View answerOngoing communication is taking place between officials and the Higher Education Institution (HEI) concerned in relation to the case raised by the Deputy with a view to bringing this matter to a conclusion. Officials will request the relevant HEI to update the individual concerned.
409. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on the work carried out by his Department to help with the cost of attending further and higher education. [12588/22]
View answerEquity of Access to Higher Education continues to be a national priority for the Government and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The Programme for Government reflects the importance of supporting learners at risk of education disadvantage and learners with special education needs in higher education. My Department has taken a range of intitatives to ensure there is increased access to all third level. This includes: - Abolishing the €200 fee for PLC courses; - Changes to Student Grant Scheme for the first time in a decade; - Increasing the visibility of further education and training options to school leavers; - Increasing the Student Assistance Fund to help students who may be experiencing hardship; - The development of a new National Access Plan removing specific barriers to people accessing third level; - The allocation of €10 million for students with disabilities; - Ringfenced funding to increase participation in third level for the Travelling Community; - and removing barriers to people living in direct provision accessing student grants. My Department will continue to keep existing provision and initiatives under review. We want to develop a better understanding of what works best within the different models, and to look at how we can assist people to access and progress through higher and further education and training. Thus ensuring that we grow prosperity across communities and build social cohesion, while also recognising the different needs of learners and enabling each and every one of them to develop to their full potential.
410. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on the recent increase in the number of apprentices; and the number of apprenticeships being offered and being taken up by students. [12589/22]
View answerSignificant progress is being made in realising the ambition for apprenticeship set out in the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 published in April last year. The further development and mainstreaming of apprenticeship in Ireland through the creation of a single unified apprenticeship system has a key role to play in meeting Ireland's skill needs in a manner which presents a valued proposition for apprentices and employers alike.
The Action Plan sets a target of 10,000 annual apprentice registrations by 2025. In 2021 there were a record 8,607 registrations- up from 6,177 for 2019, the last pre-COVID full year, and the highest annual registrations since the 2006 figure of 8,306.
In 2021, 6,955 registrations were in craft apprenticeships, and largely in the construction sector, which will be vital for realising the ambition set out in Housing for All. There were 1,652 registrations on the newer, post-2016 programmes
Information on apprenticeship activity received by my Department shows that for the month of January, there were 468 registrations in craft apprenticeship programs. 317 of these apprentices or 68% were aged between 16 and 20 years of age showing a strong uptake in apprenticeships by students.
In November 2021 information on apprenticeship was included on the CAO website. This initiative is expected to make a significant contribution to highlighting the range of learning and qualification options for school leavers, providing opportunities beyond the more traditional academic path for those who wish to obtain a qualification through different and equally valued means.
As part of this landmark change, a Freephone helpline has been introduced for learners, parents and guidance counsellors to provide information on apprenticeship, including how to find an employer. The helpline supplements the existing guidance counsellor service at post-primary and further education and training levels. A briefing session for guidance counsellors was also organised by ETBI and SOLAS to provide information on apprenticeship options. Collectively, these measures mark an important step in increasing awareness of and access to apprenticeship programmes for students.
411. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current maximum income allowed for a household for a new SUSI applicant; if the applicants income is taken into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12621/22]
View answerThe Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), provides grant assistance to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally. Student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants, gross income, before deduction of income tax or universal social charge, is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service executive payments excluded.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
The means test takes into consideration the income of the applicant and his/her parents/legal guardian or spouse as appropriate. Further information regarding class of applicant (independent or dependent) and the types of documentation accepted as evidence of living independently from parents is available from SUSI’s website: susi.ie/eligibility/applicant-class/.
Under Article 22(5)(b) of the Student Grant Scheme 2021, income from an applicant’s employment which represents holiday earnings outside of term time but within the reference period up to a maximum of €4,500 can be deducted from the total reckonable income assessed.
Under the Student Grant Scheme 2021, the highest income threshold for the award of 25% maintenance grant assistance ranges between €45,790 and €54,630 (varying based on the number of dependent children in the household). However, additional increments (of up to €4,830 per person) may be applied to these thresholds to take into account other relevant persons in the household (apart from the applicant) attending a full-time further or higher education course.
As part of Budget 2022, I have secured an additional €15m to enhance the existing financial supports under the Student Grant Scheme for implementation in 2022.
For the academic year 2022/23 this will mean:-
- An increase to all student grant maintenance payments, including the special rate of grant, of €200 per year which will benefit all students entitled to receive a maintenance Grant.
- The income thresholds to qualify for the standard rates of student grant have been increased by €1,000.
- The qualifying distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant has been reduced from 45km to 30km, effective from the start of the 2022/23 academic year.
412. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the regular weekly supports that are available for a person (details supplied). [12662/22]
View answerThe main support available to assist postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
Postgraduate students who meet all of the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme are eligible for a maintenance grant of up to €5,915. The income threshold for this grant for the 2021/22 academic year is €24,500. Qualifying postgraduate students may also be eligible to have their tuition fees paid up to a maximum fee limit of €6,270.
Alternatively a postgraduate student may qualify to have a €3,500 contribution made towards the cost of his/her fees. The income threshold for this payment is €54,240 for the 2021/22 academic year, increasing relative to the number of family dependents.
Budget 2021 provided for enhanced postgraduate supports for the academic year 2021/22 including the fee grant amount rising from €2,000 to €3,500 and the income threshold for eligibility for these grants to increase from €31,500, now €54,240. This is an initial step in meeting part of the Government’s commitments regarding SUSI grant support.
Students can determine their eligibility at susi.ie/eligibility/income/. The student may also wish to discuss his eligibility for SUSI assistance by calling the SUSI Support Desk on 0818 888 777.
Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), Jobseekers Allowance and Supplementary Welfare allowance payments are administered by the Department of Social Protection (DSP). Further enquiries in respect of these payments or any other social assistance payments that the student may be entitled to should be referred to DSP.
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, in July 2020 I announced a funding package of €168m for the return to education which included a €10m access support package for higher education students. I approved the allocation of €8.1m of this funding to top up the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). The SAF assists students in a sensitive and compassionate manner who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Institutions have the autonomy to maximise the flexibility in the Student Assistance Fund to enable HEIs to support students during the COVID-19 situation. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education, including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.
413. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the level of Russian investment in the Irish University sector; the source of this investment; the steps if any he intends to take with respect to this investment given the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12888/22]
View answerFirstly I want to start by reiterating the Government’s utter condemnation of Russia’s actions in Ukraine as illegal and immoral.
This is an evolving situation and the Government is committed to taking actions necessary to support the people of Ukraine as well as hard-hitting sanctions against Russia.
In terms of financial sanctions and restrictions, each Member State is required to designate competent authorities that are engaged with sanction issues. In Ireland, the three competent authorities are: the Department of Foreign Affairs; the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and the Central Bank of Ireland. My Department will engage with the competent authorities on any issues identified in terms of Russian investments.
414. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the new employer apprentice grant will be available to local authorities as employers further to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12896/22]
View answerThe introduction of an annual employer grant is a significant deliverable under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025. The new Employer Grant is funded in Budget 2022 and will see annual payments to employers of €2,000 per apprentice for those apprenticeships which are not eligible for the payment of off-the-job training allowances. Its introduction means that, for the first time, employers of all apprentices will now have access to some level of financial support, either through direct payment of allowances to apprentices or through the employer grant. The grant is effective from January 2022.
The scheme does not specifically exclude local authorities, subject to the bodies meeting the terms of the scheme, including SOLAS authorisation requirements for apprentice employers.
For example, employers must be approved by SOLAS in advance of employing apprentices, and need to demonstrate that they can provide quality, relevant, on-the-job training for the targeted apprenticeship(s).
The grant can be claimed by the employer in line with de minimis State Aid regulations for each eligible apprentice for the duration of their apprenticeship. This includes apprentices who were registered during the period 2019-2021 and who continue in employment as of 1st January 2022. Two payment points are planned per year, in June and December.
Eligible employers do not need to do anything as they will be contacted by the National Apprenticeship Office in May/June and invited to submit their claim online.
New apprenticeships introduced in 2022 and subsequent years will also be included in the grant scheme.
Further details can be found on www.apprenticeship.ie.
415. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 8 February 2022, when the SUSI review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12897/22]
View answerI recognise that cost can be major factor for many people in accessing higher education, and I am committed to delivering on the Programme for Government’s commitments regarding SUSI. In addition to commissioning a major review of the scheme, I have also prioritised expansion and reform of the scheme in budgetary allocations.
I commissioned a major review of the Student Grant Scheme, which has been conducted by Indecon Economic Consultants under the direction of a steering group chaired by my Department and comprising a number of stakeholders.
It is my intention to bring the final report to Government shortly. It is my strong view that cost and access issues must be considered in tandem with the issues of system funding and reform. If we want the best outcomes, we need a well funded system which is accessible to people regardless of their background. Reform of the student support system can also be a critical enabler of other strategic outcomes across the tertiary system, including enhanced lifelong learning and stronger diversity among the postgraduate community.
Given these interconnections, it is my intention to bring the Student grant review to Cabinet alongside the report on funding and reform of higher education.
I have already initiated improvements to the Student Grant Scheme in the past two Budgets. These have been targeted at alleviating cost of living pressures for students and their families, supporting students who have to travel longer distances to their institution, recognising the need to reflect changes in income levels and expanding supports for postgraduates.
The changes I made in Budget 2022, will mean that from the next academic year:-
- All student grant maintenance payments, including the special rate of grant, will increase by €200 per year.
- The income thresholds to qualify for the standard rates of student grant will increase by €1,000.
- The qualifying distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant has been reduced from 45km to 30km.
I have prioritised these changes for the 2022/23 academic year and they will benefit thousands of students, building on the improvements that have already been made for postgraduate students through this year’s student grant scheme.
416. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide the participation rates of students in recipient of SUSI on the Erasmus+ programme in each of the years 2016 to 2019. [12906/22]
View answerStudent's participating on the Erasmus+ programme is not captured by SUSI, however, the Higher Education Authority captures the numbers of students from disadvantaged backgrounds that participate in the Erasmus+ programme. If the student is in receipt of the SUSI grant, they are entitled to an additional top up support for Erasmus+ mobilities.
In 2014, the HEA introduced a €100 monthly top-up payment to the Erasmus+ grant, called Social Inclusion Supplementary Support Initiative (SISSI), for students with fewer opportunities. This funding is available to students going on study abroad visits and traineeships. The top-up rate was increased incrementally each year and in 2020 was set at €180 per month. Students in receipt of the SUSI grant are eligible for the additional SISSI payment.
Table 1 below shows the number of and the proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds participating on the programme up to the 2019/20 Academic Year. In 2015/16, students from disadvantaged backgrounds accounted for just under 8% of the total outbound mobilities. This figure increased to 17% for the 2019/20 programme year.
2,236 students have benefited from this additional support during the period that the Deputies question refers. It is expected that this figure will continue to increase as mobilities for this contract period will continue until 2023.
Table 1
|
Programme Year |
Students in receipt of SISSI Top-up |
% Proportion of Total Outbound Mobilities |
|
2019/20 |
661 |
17.1% |
|
2018/19 |
634 |
15.8% |
|
2017/18 |
466 |
12.7% |
|
2016/17 |
222 |
6.4% |
|
2015/16 |
253 |
7.9% |
As part of the new Erasmus+ programme (2021-2028), the SISSI top up payment has now been replaced as the EU Commission have introduced a flat rate monthly top-up of €250 to support social inclusion as one of the key priorities of the new programme. This is applicable to all member states participating in the new programme.
417. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the salaries and pensions paid out to special advisors to Ministers and Ministers of State in his Department in 2020 and 2021, broken down by Minister in tabular form. [11393/22]
View answerThe attached tabular statement contains the information requested by the Deputy.
2020 - Department FHERIS
|
Minister/MoS |
Special Adviser |
Annual Salary |
Pension |
|
Simon Harris |
Special Advisers |
€200,579 |
N/A |
2021 - Department FHERIS
|
Minister/MoS |
Special Adviser |
Annual Salary |
Pension |
|
Simon Harris |
Special Advisers |
€297,122 |
N/A |
418. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that the SUSI income thresholds for 2022-2023 were raised by €1,000 across all bands including for the special rate band which is for the lowest earners, that is, those on a Department of Social Protection payment with combined household earnings of less than €24,000 per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12942/22]
View answerThe Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, provides grant assistance to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI to determine. The income limit for the special rate of grant is aligned to the maximum point of the weekly State Contributory Pension plus the maximum Qualified Adult Allowance for a person over 66 years. The student grant means test for 2022 is based on gross reckonable income for the 2021 tax year.
As the Department of Social Protection state pension payment was not increased in Budget 2021, the special rate income threshold remains at €24,500 for the 2022 Scheme. The income threshold for the special rate of grant is strategically aligned with the highest Department of Social Protection rate as described in order to target students from households in receipt of long term social welfare assistance effectively. However, the special rate of grant payment itself was increased by €200 as part of Budget 2022, along with all other student grant rates. For the 2022/23 academic year, the special rate of grant is payable at the non-adjacent rate of €6,115 or the adjacent rate of €2,575, depending on the distance from ordinary residence to the college attended.
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. The fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.
419. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his nominees to the board of South East Technological University will participate and play an active role in the ongoing process to deliver a short list of candidate names suitable for interview for the new position of president (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13011/22]
View answer420. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the selection process for the Technological University Dublin, Munster Technological University and the Technological University of the Shannon consisted of a shortlisting of candidates undertaken by a company (details supplied) followed by two further selection interviews; if this is the process that will be followed for the selection of a new president to the South East Technological University; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13020/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 419 and 420 together.
On 21st of February I announced the Chairperson and two ordinary members of the first governing body of the South East Technological University. These individuals will attend the current Joint Governing Body TU Steering Committee in advance of the establishment of the TU, as outlined in the candidate information booklet issued as part of my Department's public process seeking expressions of interest for the positions.
In designating TU status on IT Carlow and Waterford IT last month I requested the governing bodies of the Institutes to immediately proceed to initiate a process by way of open competition for the identification of a suitable candidate or candidates that I can consider designating to the post of first president of the new TU upon its establishment.
It remains a matter for the governing bodies as to how precisely they organise the said open competition., including the number and composition of any committees or boards involved in the identification and nomination processes.
Similar processes previously undertaken by TU development consortia are understood to have all involved an external recruitment consultant or executive recruitment agency to assist the governing bodies of the Institutes involved in the relevant processes. The procurement and tasking of such consultants or agencies are matters for those governing bodies.
